What happened to all the tube amps?

RE: The new Lamm amp.

I respect Lamm amplifiers, but repeat my dismay (as expressed in another thread) at what is, in the ML3, an example of outrageous excess and waste. That's enough money to buy a $30k tube amp, with $95k left over for good deeds. Just focusing on sound quality alone, no way is the premium justified compared to the sound one can get from a darTZeel or CAT's best amps (or Atma-Sphere's best amps, etc.) in the right system. One could hire a good chamber ensemble to perform every weekend for two years for that kind of jack. Only a true idiot would spend that kind of money on an amp.

Tvad, you hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head.

About 6 years ago, I purchased an used Jolida 502a for $400 in the local paper. Today, it's about double that used!!!! I think tube amps are more popular today than 10 years ago, personally. I think people have discovered the benefits that tubes offer, and they like what they hear. I just think they tend to keep them longer, for the most part. But, what do I know...it's just an assumption

" Just focusing on sound quality alone, no way is the premium justified compared to the sound one can get from a darTZeel or CAT's best amps (or Atma-Sphere's best amps, etc.) in the right system"

and what makes you so sure about that?

I would certainly put my Lamm ML 2.1's up against your aforementioned amps and test your comments

OBGYN: I am not certain what your point is, but if you are saying that your amps stack up against the amps I mentioned, we are in complete agreement -- your amps are superb. And that is my point -- anything more would be, in my opinion, grossly excessive given how good these amps are and given the other things that much money could be used for. Will the new, trillion dollar Lamm sound better? Sure. Of course it will. I am saying, however, that the $100k price differential is unjustifiable.